DVSF-III: The Columbus Police Dept. wants to know! I have to know

[Double Venom]

With all the excitement of the III this year, Hotels filling up, entertainment being lined up, thousands of the general public showing up and now with the awesome offer from KMP and others...I forgot.

CPD called me last Friday and wanted to know if we wanted our annual parade through Columbus again?

For those that aren't familiar with it, we start out from Lake Choctaw, through Madison County, through Franklin County, into the City of Columbus, traveling right through the heart of the city, all under full police escort.

Once again we have awakened sleeping giants and they are coming to us. If we do the parade it will be Sunday afternoon and has been and will be once again the finale of the event.

This will be entirely up to the Cobra community, you have to let me know. All the Police Departments involved are now gearing up for the largest Cobra parade ever. They "WILL" be prepared, more cruisers, and more motorcycles involved than ever before.

I have to know, they have to know....Do you want to do this? (We usually leave London by 4 PM and the parade ends at basically I-71 and 270 around 5 PM.)

DV... Just showin off!

[Ken Greene]

I am showing up on Thursday this time and aren't leaving till monday so it aint to late in the day for me....
now i just need the cobra

[Bill Wells]

for those that can stay, let them vote. i will be heading north again like last year in lieu of that 'parade'. bill

[Silk]

Ed,

I missed the inaugural year, but did do the parade through Columbus this year. I'm usually up for something like this, but never again! I was #2 in the caravan, and came within a couple of feet of getting T-boned at an intersection.

Police would stop briefly at each intersection, then move on. Even though there was a steady stream of Cobras going through, when cross-traffic had the green light, and when no other cars were stopped at the intersection waiting for the parade to move through, many drivers just tended to plow right into the intersection without paying much attention. I know this happened to several others as well as to me. Probably more of a risk to cars early in the caravan before stopped cross-traffic accumulates.

You do so much outstanding planning for this event, I'd just hate to see a serious accident occur during the last activity of the weekend. Much of the safety factor here is out of your hands, but the police involvement during this year's parade was very inadequate. So my vote would be a firm "No." You've got plenty of other great things to keep us busy and amused without taking this kind of risk.

Really looking forward to next year. The Capital Area Cobra Club should have a really great turn out for you (and us)!!

Best wishes for the hollidays,

[Jerry Chabino]

I was the last car keeping an eye out for any of us that had problems and would need help. It was a great time although I believe the speed of the caravan through the city of Columbus is a little high. That seems to create gaps. Just my 2 cents.

Jerry

[Cobra20646]

DV,

Unlike my club mate above, I did the first run through Columbus, but could not do the second..... too much heat for JoAnn to tolerate (new meds).

Anyhow, the first run was so controlled, I don't think there was a "near miss" the entrie route. When I heard the chatter following last years run, I was just amazed that traffic control at the intersections was so poor.

As Gary said, this is something that is out of your control. You do what you can to request the support we need in this parade, but what actually shows up is not your fault. So, without even giving it much more thought, I'd have to vote no also.......... even though blowing through Columbus was a blast and a perfect ending to DVSF1.

FWIW dept.......... During the escort from London to Xenia I was about third or forth from the "escort" vehcile.......... then he pulls off the road.... I thought to hand us off to the next PD in line. No more escorts the rest of the route..... and a bunch of rag tag out of state cobra nuts following someone they hope knows the route. Something there fell through the cracks I'm sure..... time table screwed up, cop on a more urgent call, whatever, but just an example of what can go wrong to totally screw up an event and put people in harms way.

Happy holidays to everyone

- Jim -

[cobrajeff]

I drove in the Columbus caravan the first year - and it seemed like there weren't as many officers blocking intersections as there were for Friday or Saturday's caravans (maybe because there are SO many more intersections). That made for some anxious moments at more than a few intersections. Anyway, it wasn't as much fun for me as the escorted drives in the countryside. I elected to skip the Columbus caravan the second year.

The entire event, both years, was fantastic, and exceptionally well organized. We are looking forward to coming again, but will once again (if it is planned) skip the caravan thru downtown.

See ya'll in June!

Jeff Burgy and Claudia Weiss

[Double Venom]

Guys,
This is exactly what I heard and experienced first hand, so did they! THIS is why CPD contacted me now. If we were to do this again "they" will have enough Oficers on hand to handle the job properly.

So Lets assume they do have enough Officers, we do slow the speed down a little, and everything goes as planned. I have no objections cancelling it out, but I just want to make sure first.
DV

[Mark Roe]

Lets go with it!!

It's just got to be a sight--300++ Cobras driving through town with an escort--got to be awesome...........

[jpk]

I'm with Mark. Let's do it !!
This will be my first fling, and I want to squeeze out every little I can. I'm having my car shipped out from CA, but will be driving it back home. ROAD TRIP !!!!!

thanks,

joe kennedy

[casaleenie]

DV,

Any early estimates on the number of Cobras that will be on hand... I know it's early....

[Todd Baumann]

As long as we can say there is enough CPD on duty for this, I say, Let's do it!!
Todd

[Double Venom]

First year: 150 plus-Official count 135
Second year: 273 - Official count 237
Third year: Oh my G A W D !!

DV...you think 200 Cobras fired up is awesome..bring ear plugs this year!

[klayfish]

DV,
I think it's a great idea, sounds like fun. I'd only be concerned to be sure we could get going on time. I have to load the car up and drive back to Philadelphia that night. If the cops will make sure the intersections are clear, I think it will be a great parade. Can we dress our cars up like big (and really fast) floats?

Steve

[Mohuska]

I think it we should go for it!!

[larryar]

I can't wait! I was at DV I without a cobra. I had to work during DV II, No way I'll miss DV III!! Count me in for the Columbus parade.

[f4steri]

DV:
It's (the parade) the peace d'resistance!! It's like milk without cookies! It's like Fibber Maghee without Mollie, Abbot without Costello!! We gotta do it!

Frank SPF # 725

[Turk]

We have 6 months to practice "following close" "tailgating" and similar exercises.

It was the big gaps both during the parade and the convoys that caused the difficulties.

We have 6 months to get good at driving on the freeways within half a car legth of the car in front of us. If you can do it successfully at 70-80 MPH for 6 months, Columbus parade at 40 MPH with a full car length spacing will be a piece of cake.

I know it is a no brainer for the California boys.

TURK

[Jamo]

Assolutely...

I was near the front of the convoy to the racetrack--just behind DVII. We hit some stoplights, etc. when the cops pulled off--but we stayed on each other's butts within our group and arrived without much of a problem.

Just violate normal rules of the road and we'll be fine. Gasholes will be happy to show you the way...

[Turk]

I was following Evan. Who was following the car in front of him.
1/4 mile spacing would put 237 cars in a convoy 58.5 miles long!!

I don't believe the National Guard could provide the protection we need much less the local Police Force summoned to do this job.

So next year's motto ought to be...
If you can't hear the car infront's bearing noises... you ain't close enough!

TURK